Suicide prevention talks began in Australian schools when pupils were 8 years old, and being more open about the topic was one way to reduce the death toll, a veteran suicide negotiator said in Alexandra this week.
Gary Raymond, of Sydney, was a policeman in New South Wales for 33 years before retiring recently. He was, as a member of a police rescue squad and part of the suicide negotiation unit, involved in 200 suicide negotiations.
In 2007, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the community for his work in critical incident stress management and suicide prevention.
Mr Raymond was in New Zealand to talk at a series of Full Gospel Business Men's International Fellowship meetings, including one in Alexandra.
The negotiation unit specialised in dealing with people threatening suicide, suicide crisis intervention and post crisis - "the people who are left behind after those tragic events".
"One of the huge myths is that talking about suicide will make people do it - that's not the case. You need to talk about it and talk openly," Mr Raymond said.
Vast amounts of money was spent on education and publicity campaigns about drink-driving and similar campaigns on alcohol and drugs. Mr Raymond said.
"Similar publicity on mental health - where is it? Suicide kills more young people than any other cause."
Suicide prevention talks had been part of the Australian school curriculum for six years and they began when pupils were 8, he said.
"The youngest case of suicide negotiations I've been involved in was with two 9-year-olds ... They said they loved each other and weren't allowed to get married.
"Talking to young people about suicide, bringing it up in conversation, is important. When they're under stress, and exam time, for example, you might say to them: 'I'm not saying you ever will, but if you ever feel suicidal, promise me you'll ring me or your friends or the police or ambulance.' It's a contract, an agreement and that contract will be honoured; they will keep to that contract."
The support network could include parents, friends and peer support groups in some schools who have training to be suicide aware, he said.
"In young people, it's their friends they confide in about being suicidal - often the friends know long before parents do." The latest research on signs and symptoms showed loss or change was the first indicator of a suicide risk, he said.
"People might be ambivalent, use a number scale to gauge their degree of depression - on a scale of one to 10, where are you?
"Ask the question, gently and directly - are you suicidal? Research shows this can be a life-saving question. Don't muck around with euphemisms like 'are you thinking of doing something stupid'," Mr Raymond said.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was once the domain of medical professionals, but now those skills were widely taught - "even an 8-year-old on Bondi beach would know what to do if someone has a heart attack".
"The mental health sector is lagging way behind. They say no, the general community can't address mental health aid because it's too complicated - but that's not the case.
"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If people are threatening suicide, they are undecided. Keep talking to them about the here and now. The past can be too painful for them and the future to hard to think about."
Intervention was the key, Mr Raymond said.
The Government announced in April it would invest more than $62 million over four years in new initiatives and existing programmes to address youth mental health issues, including the high youth suicide rate.
Contact details
If you need help, contact Lifeline New Zealand, 0800 543-354; Youthline phone counselling, 0800 376-633; or Citizens Advice Bureau, 0800 367-222 .
